System for creating a souvenir for a user attending an event

ABSTRACT

A video presentation device is disclosed. The video presentation device comprises an electronic module including a microcontroller and a memory adapted for storing digital content, a communication link adapted to communicatively couple the electronic module with a host server, to receive multimedia digital content from the host server upon command from the host server, and a video display for playing the multimedia digital content upon command of the electronic module.

BACKGROUND

Video presentation devices, such as in the form of a foldable structure,or booklet, are known, such as video brochures promoting a product, aservice, a performance artist, or the like. In certain cases, such asthat of a merchandising device promoting a performance artist, themerchandising device may include printed material and/or stillphotographs or other artwork printed on the brochure, as well as aspeaker and a visual display device for playing recorded audio and/orvideo files stored in memory resident on the device. However promotionalmaterial associated with such devices may quickly become dated.

Additionally, in certain venues, such as theme parks, photographs and/orvideos (i.e., recordings) of attendees at the venue may be recorded, aswhen the attendees are participating in a particular activity, such assliding down a water slide. The recordings may subsequently be presentedfor sale to the attendees. Typically, this may require the attendees towait in a line to view their particular recording and then, ifinterested, purchase the recording. If an attendee chooses not to waitin the line, the attendee may likely not purchase the video.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, a video presentation device isprovided which may automatically be updated, so as to keep video contentstored on the device current.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a video presentationdevice in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, but havingcomponents rearranged; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a use of the device of FIG. 1 in conjunction with atheme park.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many differentforms, there will be described herein in detail, specific embodimentsthereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to beconsidered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentsillustrated.

In accordance with the invention, and referring to FIGS. 1-3, oneembodiment of a video presentation device, generally designated 10, isdescribed. The presentation device 10 may be foldable along a spine 11,and the may include a cover page 12, a back page 13 and one or moreinner pages (not shown) there between. Locations of certain componentsshown in FIG. 3 differs somewhat from similar components shown in FIGS.1 and 2, illustration the component locations may vary without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As is known in the art, the pages 12, 13 may include conventional textand/or artwork. The text and the artwork may relate to a product, anevent, a performing artist to be promoted, a destination such as a themepark, or the like.

The may include an electronic module 21 (FIG. 3) disposed within theback page 13. The module 21 may include memory for storing digitalcontent in the form of conventional electronic files of recordings ofstill images, video images, and/or audio, alone or in combination. Thedevice 10 may also include a conventional video display 24 fordisplaying stored recorded images and a sound transducer 26 for audiblyplaying stored audio. The video display 24 may include conventionaltouch screen capability, such that menu icons or the like may bedisplayed and actuated. The sound transducer 26 may be a component whichfunctions both as a speaker and a microphone, or it may be two separatedevices, one a speaker, the other a microphone. As used throughout thisspecification, the sound transducer 26 may be referred to as a speakerif the sound transducer 26 is being used as a speaker, and the soundtransducer 26 may be referred to as a microphone if the sound transducer26 is being used as a microphone. Components of the electronic module 21may be conventionally interconnected and may be powered by aconventional power source 27, which may be a rechargeable battery.

The electronic module 21 may include a conventional micro-controller,such as a microprocessor, programmed to transmit and receive,collectively ‘transceive’, one of the electronic files, over anelectronic communication link 32 between the memory and a host server,or host device, 34. The electronic communication link 32 may be adirect, wired connection, or a wireless connection such as cellular,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or the like.

The module 21 may communicate with the memory and the host device 34, totransceive electronic files between the memory and the host device 34under control of the microprocessor.

The device 10 may further include a user input to permit the user toinput commands to the device 10, and in particular, to themicroprocessor. The user input may be in the form of one or more buttontype actuators, pushbutton, capacitive, light sensitive, or the like.Alternatively, the user input may include the touch screen incorporatedin the video display 24. Additionally, the user input may be in the formof speech recognition software stored in the memory, operable undercommand of the microprocessor, and adapted to receive audible commandsreceived over the sound transducer 26.

The device 10 may include a conventional switch (not shown), such as aconventional push-button switch, a conventional capacitive touch sensingswitch, a conventional light sensing switch, or the like, to detect whenone or more of the pages has been opened relative to the other ones ofthe pages, which may cause playing of one of the audio/visual filesstored in the memory audibly via the speaker 26 and/or visually via thevisual display device 10, when the particular page is opened.

The device 10 may include one or more conventional cameras 31 andconventional associated camera software stored in the memory.

The device 10 may be programmed to have an ID, such as an alphanumericID or some other form of device identification code. The ID may beunique to the device 10, to a selected group of devices 10, orotherwise.

The device 10 may allow content relating to the user possessing thedevice 10 with the unique ID to have access to digital content relatingto the user having the particular device.

The device 10 may have one or more accompanying keycards 33 which maypermit one or more of the users to use independently of the device 10,but which associates the user(s) with the device 10. The device 10 andthe keycards 33 may also include conventional location tracking and/orsensing technology, so that the location of the user(s) possessing thedevice 10 and the keycards 33 may be tracked. The user may make certainpurchases or participate in certain activities, which may permit somedigital content to be created surrounding that activity.

The digital content may be transferred to the device 10 on demand,without the user having to initiate/accept the digital content before itis downloaded.

The digital content may also be transferred temporarily into the device10, where the user is able to view the content for a limited period oftime, before it is automatically deleted.

The digital content that is transferred into the memory of the device 10for a limited period of time may be extended for a longer period of timeor the digital content may be retained by the user for a longer periodof time, such as indefinitely, under the command of the user, andpermission by the host device 34, which command may be made via the userinput. Storage of the digital content for a longer period of time may befacilitated with the help of an online payment gateway system, which maybe resident on the host device 34.

The digital content stored in the memory of the device 10 may becontrolled by the host device 34, which digital content may be deletedfrom the device 10 remotely upon a command from the host device 34without the user's involvement.

The digital content stored in the memory in the device 10 may also becontrolled by the user and may be manually deleted by the user via theuser input.

Various software or other applications may be stored in the memory,which may provide a specific experience for the user that may surround asingle subject matter, corporate entity, event, place or a person

The device 10 may be programmed to allow limited installation ofadditional software, or it may be programmed to completely block theuser from installing any new software into the device 10.

The device 10 may be in the form of a foldable structure that activateswhen the pages of the device 10 are separated from each other.

The device 10 may be configured with a protocol such as iBeacon, or thelike, that may command the device 10 to perform a certain action, suchas to play certain content or execute a certain command when it is neara particular iBeacon-compatible transmitter

The device 10 may include multiple sensors that allow the device 10 tobe inserted into a book like structure with a cut out in each page. Theuser may view digital content in a specific order relating to theprinted content of each particular page.

The wireless functionality of the device 10 may permit the digitalcontent to transfer the content into the device 10 in a particularfolder or order, so that it will play the digital content in a specificorder based on the triggers concealed within each page or to match eachbutton or folder.

The device 10 may be partially disabled using software or hardware toprevent a user to extract the digital content from the device

The device 10 may include a conventional location detection module, suchas GPS functionality, which may be contained with the electronic module21. The location detection module may continuously, or periodically,communicate the location of the device 10 to the host device 34, so thatthe host device 34 knows the location of the device 10. The host device34 may use this location information to cause the host device 34 totransfer specific digital content to the device 10 based on the positionof the device 10 (and thus likely the position of the user).

The device 10 may include conventional virtual reality capabilityallowing the user to experience 360° video capability by moving thedirection of the device 10.

Selection of one of the icons may cause the device 10 to connect withthe host device 34 to download updated information, such as in the formof data files, about the subject matter of the device 10.

Selection of another one of the icons may cause the device 10 to accessan authorized Twitter, Instagram, or other social media, account.

The device 10 may be programmed to automatically synchronize withvarious social media accounts for updates on a periodic basis.

The device 10 may permit a user to enter their age, gender and otherpreferences, so that a server/content provider may push relevant contentfor that user allowing for tailor made content being pushed to anindividual user based on various parameters.

The device 10 may be configured to show a unique number or message onthe screen that could be the unique ID of the device 10, so that thisunique ID is visible while playing the content on the LCD screen.

The device 10 may be configured to communicate with a cloud storagesystem that allows the user to back up the digital content on the cloud,so that if the user loses the device 10, the user may replace the device10 and download the same content into a new device. This may be achievedwhile still giving full control to the digital content provider whoextends restricted access of the digital content to the user, therebypreventing the user to be able to transfer the digital content to anyother device, other than an authorized device. This may permit such adevice to act as a long term digital memorabilia device as the user willnever lose their content and can keep it for years to come.

As one example of an application of the present invention, the device 10may be utilized as a promotional product, such as for a popular singer.The device 10 may be distributed, including printed text and photographsof the singer. The device 10, as originally distributed, could alsoinclude a music video of a performance by the singer. But rather thanthe stored digital content remaining static, the device 10 may remaincurrent by permitting a user to follow the singer, such as via thesinger's Twitter and/or Instagram social media account. Additionally,subsequent music videos may be downloaded to the device 10, either uponthe control of the singer and/or the user. The device 10, in effect, maybe configured to never become out-dated. This device 10 could similarlybe utilized to promote a commercial product, a business, or the like,also never becoming out-dated.

As another example of an application of the present invention, thedevice 10 may be utilized as a souvenir of one's attendance at an event,such as a visit to a theme park.

At a theme park, people are often required to wait in line after eachride or experience, just to look at one or more of their photographs andthen stand in line to purchase them, if desired. And still photographsfail to capture the dynamic experience of a visitor of the park, whichcould be captured in a video format.

The device 10 may permit the user/visitor from not having to stand in aline waiting to see a photograph or video of them experiencing the ride,but instead the photograph or video may be delivered as digital contentdirectly to their respective device 10, no matter where they are in thetheme park, or in the world. Theme park owners may also have an optionto send the content to the device 10 for the visitor to see only once ortwice for example, after which the visitor/user may be provided theoption to either retain their memory (i.e., the digital content) of themexperiencing the ride and then buy this digital content or choose not tobuy the digital content.

The theme park may also push tailor made content to the user, such as agreeting on birthdays, a discount coupon, free tickets, or the like.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the device 10 being used in conjunctionwith a visit to a theme park, although this may be applicable to visitsto other destinations, such as ones in which a souvenir of the visit maybe desired.

The device 10 may be initially presented to a user with appropriate,theme oriented printed text and artwork, as well as appropriate,“generic” digital content. Associated ones of the keycards 33 may alsobe presented to the user, such as if the user has one or more othermembers of the user's party. An entry machine 40 coupled to an entrymachine server 42 may associate the keycards 33 with a particular one,or ones, of the device 10. This information may be communicated with thehost device 34. The host device 34 may track the location of the device10 and the associated keycards 33, activating cameras (not shown)distributed about the theme park at appropriate times.

As the user (and/or other members of the user's party) experiences thetheme park, recordings may be made of the user's experience, such as ofthe user sliding down a water slide, and the recording may betransmitted from the theme park's host device 34 to the device 10. Suchrecordings may be made specific to the user due to the location trackingcapability of the device 10, or associated ones of the keycards 33,described above.

The user may be given a period of time to view/listen to the particularrecordings, and decide whether or not to keep the particular recordings,which may require a purchase of the recordings. In such a situation, theuser need not wait in line to view the recordings, and may be much morelikely to ultimately purchase the recordings. Upon completion, the usermay have a unique souvenir of the user's visit to the theme park.

The device 10 may provide a multisensory experience. For example, ifsomeone goes to a particular theme park, for example a park having StarWars as a theme. One of the pages or the cover of the device 10 may beadapted such that images of light sabers, associated with the Star Warstheme, may suddenly power on with sound effects when the user does acertain action. The multisensory may be experienced through light andsound fitted inside a particular page or cover. The movement of thelights within a page that acts as a backlight under static images maycreate a dynamic experience and may help build the excitement of “comingattractions” further within the book.

The device 10 may include a conventional HDMI port to allow the user toconnect the device 10 to their TV to broadcast the digital content on abigger screen, in certain instances where the content is not restricted.

The 360° video experience may also be experienced using a touch screencapability, so people may scroll on the screen manually, such as fordevices that don't have the directional functionality built into it.

The user may be provided the option to order a clone of the device 10and have that mailed to others, such as grandparents for example, so allthe content may be shared with loved ones not present at the park.

The device 10 may work in an environment such as between celebrities andtheir fans. Fans may use the device 10 where the fans may have access torestricted content that a fan that does not purchase such a device maynot otherwise have. In such situations, the restricted digital contentmay be pushed to the device 10 (for example, live video footage of aconcert in which the user was present, or an early access to new songs,music videos that have not yet been released in the open domain orbehind the scenes footage etc.)

Celebrities may control the distribution of the content and limit it toa particular device, so as to avoid the content being distributed in anunauthorized fashion. With the help of the remote server, a celebritymay choose to remotely delete all the content that has been previouslydownloaded in such a device, so as to provide seamless updates andrelevant content to the user based on various circumstances, events orsituations.

From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous variations andmodifications may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitationillustrated herein is intended, or inferred. It is, of course, intendedto cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall withinthe scope of the claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A system for creating a souvenir for one or moreusers attending an event, the system comprising: a host deviceassociated with the event; an image presentation device associated withthe one or more users, the image presentation device including anelectronic module including a microcontroller, a memory adapted forstoring digital content and an image display for playing digital contentstored in the memory upon command of the electronic module; one or morekeycards accompanying respective one or more of the users, the one ormore keycards permitting the one or more users to use independently ofthe image presentation device, each of the one or more keycardsincluding a location detecting module associated with the one or moreusers, the location detecting module for cooperating with the hostdevice for determining the location of the respective one or more usersat the event and adapted to transfer the determined location of therespective location detecting module at the event to the host deviceover a communication link between the respective location detectingmodule and the host device; and an image recording device located at theevent operable under control of the host device, the image recordingdevice adapted to record as recorded digital content an area of activitywhen the host device determines the respective location detecting moduleis located within the area of activity; wherein the host device isconfigured to transmit the recorded digital content from the host deviceto the image presentation device over a communication link, and theimage presentation device is configured to receive and accept, uponcommand from the host device, the recorded digital content transferredfrom the host device, for subsequent display on the image display of theimage display device for viewing of the recorded digital content,wherein the recorded digital content is transferred from the host deviceto the image presentation device for subsequent display on the imagedisplay for viewing of the recorded digital content for a period oftime; wherein the period of time for viewing by the one or more users ofthe recorded digital content is determined upon command of the hostdevice; wherein the host device disables the image display device fromdisplaying the recorded digital content upon completion of the period oftime unless the recorded digital content is purchased and wherein theimage presentation device includes a user input to permit the one ormore users to selectively delete digital content received from the hostdevice.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication linkis a wireless communication link.